NUP decries arrest of supporters

Oct 28, 2020

"In Karamoja region, a female NUP supporter was allegedly shot dead and she left behind a five-month-old baby."

The National Unity Platform (NUP) executive committee has decried the continuous arrest of their supporters ahead of the 2021 elections.

On October 14, security agencies raided the NUP head offices in Kamwokya, Kampala and arrested over 70 people on allegations of possessing army uniforms and paraphernalia, a preserve of the armed forces.

Elijah Walakira, 17, a son of Fred Nyanzi, the NUP flag-bearer for Kampala Central MP seat, was one of the under-age people that were arrested during the raid on the offices.

"We were at home playing and security personnel surrounded and forced us to enter under their patrol vehicle. We were then detained for about three days before being taken to court," Walakira narrated during Monday's NUP press briefing.

"In court, the magistrate did not give us a chance to speak in the absence of a lawyer and remanded us to prison until October 23."

Last week, David Lewis Rubongoya, the NUP secretary-general, was arrested by security agencies immediately after a TV talk show.

He was detained at Kiira Police Station for a few hours. Joel Ssenyonyi, the party spokesperson, said a number of NUP supporters have been arrested by the Police, but luckily some have been released.

"It is really worrying and ashaming that the Police has failed to arrest notorious criminals that are moving freely but have resorted to arresting underage children and charging them with possession of military attires.  Being a NUP supporter is not a crime," Ssenyonyi said.

BOBI WINE'S OFFICIAL POSTER

Meanwhile, on Monday, October 26, NUP unveiled the party's presidential hopeful, Robert Kyagulanyi's campaign poster that is to appear on the ballot paper with a slogan "A New Uganda".

Ssenyonyi said they are yet to print more copies of the poster. He said they will be distributed and pinned in various places across the country.

 Dr Lina Zedriga, the NUP vice- president in charge of northern Uganda,  said the party had established several offices in Lango sub-region, though they faced a number of challenges during their launch.

She said Nelson Esogu, who was vying for Orungo County MP seat, was arrested by the Police and detained for three days during nomination.

She said in Karamoja region, a female NUP supporter was allegedly shot dead and she left behind a five-month-old baby.

Rubongoya said that they had filed 28 appeals to the Electoral Commission (EC) so that NUP aspirants who were arrested on the nomination day get a chance to be nominated.

POLICE, EC COMMENT

Efforts to get comments from Fred Enanga and Paul Bukenya, the Police and EC spokespersons respectively, were futile, as repeated calls to their known numbers went unanswered.

Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy Police spokesperson in Kampala, said the NUP supporters are being arrested for genuine reasons.

He said NUP was not the only party complaining of campaign posters being unpinned. Owoyesigyire said the Police removes posters that are blocking their CCTV surveillance cameras. He advised politicians to consult Kampala Capital City Authority on the placement of campaign posters.

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